CHARITY CORNER
MAGICAL TAXI TOUR TAKES 300 SICK CHILDREN TO DISNEYLAND
A fleet of black cab drivers from across the capital have waived a weekend’s worth of fares to take 300 sick children to Disneyland.
The Evening Stan- dard reports that the annual Magical Taxi Tour, organised by the charity of the same name, saw 100 taxi drivers leaving for Dover flanked by police and medical vehicles last month. Children are selected by London hospitals for the trip, which has been running since 1994 and sees all the cabbies
donate their time and fuel free of charge.
“At Disneyland Paris the children get to experience the fan- tasy world of their favourite Disney characters, getting to meet them at their Gala Dinner, and more importantly, see their dreams become a reality,” said a charity spokesman.
“This annual trip could not be under- taken without the support, time and dedication donated by our London black taxi drivers making it
possible to deliver this once in a lifetime opportunity for the children.
“The convoy has got through every year despite encountering a channel tunnel fire, a blockade of Calais by fisherman, a blockade by lorry drivers and a fuel cri- sis.
“This is a true team effort to provide nearly 4,400 children to date wonderful life experiences and cherished memories for them and their families.”
Supporters shared their good wishes on
The fleet of cabs on its way to Dover taking sick children on the Magical Taxi Tour
social media as the convoy set off. Former police officer Si Byrne tweeted:
“Just seen children's Magical Taxi Tour off to Disneyland Paris. Amazing sight and
work for children suf- fering life threatening illness.”
Gary Suter added: “My friend’s boy is on his way thanks to the wonderful Lon- don taxi drivers.” Earlier this year the Taxi Charity, full name London Taxi Benevolent Associa- tion for War Disabled, took hun- dreds of veterans to the Netherlands for the anniversary of the Liberation of Arn- hem.
The charity also takes war heroes on an annual trip to Worthing.
TRURO CABBIES’ £200 DONATION AFTER THEFT OF CHARITY BOX
Kind-hearted cab- bies have shamed thieves who snatched cash from a charity box that has stood outside a Truro store for more than three decades. The Truro Taxi Asso- ciation (TTA), a group of 14 taxi owners, has donated £200 to the Guide Dogs for the Blind.
The members’ good deed comes after reading in the West Briton how thieves snatched a life-sized guide dog charity box from outside Mallett’s Home Hard- ware store. They were so incensed that any- one could steal from a charity that they all
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(Left to right) Lynne and Mike Dennis with Goldie the dog, Joy and Syd Arnold from Truro Taxi Asso- ciation and Ina Branchett
agreed the money left over from their subscriptions that had not been spent elsewhere should be used to replace some of the cash
that was stolen. Syd Arnold, chairman of the association, said: “We had a few bucks left in the coffers. When I saw the piece in the West
Briton I put it to our members and unani- mously they voted in favour of giving some money.”
Although the 3ft box has raised thou- sands over the 35 years it has stood outside the store in Victoria Square, on average people donate £200 a year into Guide Dogs for the Blind charity boxes. Mr Arnold said: “I think everybody feels the same, that it’s terrible to take money from a charity that relies on those donations to keep going.” Mr Arnold’s wife Joy, the association’s co- chairman, said: “It’s
nice to be able to make a contribution to the community when they need it.” Lynn Dennis, from Guide Dogs for the Blind, said the taxi drivers’ donation was “absolutely wonderful”.
She added: “After everything that hap- pened this renews your faith in human nature, that people can be so kind. “You have to be the lowest of the low to steal from a charity. Guide Dogs for the Blind relies on dona- tions for everything, we do not receive any government funding.”
Ina Branchett, from Mallett’s, said:
“When the Truro Taxi Association rang up and told us what they wanted to do I thought it was amaz- ing - a really lovely gesture.”
Mrs Branchett said people from as far as New Zealand have been showing their support on the store’s Facebook page since the theft. The shop’s CCTV does not cover the area of the pavement where the collection box stood. The theft has been reported to the police.
Guide Dogs for the Blind has provided Mallett’s with a new collection box, which will be chained to the building.
OCTOBER 2015
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